Cabin Trip

This past weekend we took the Tilley and Younger clans with us to the Lake of the Ozarks for a relaxing cabin trip weekend. The condo was soooo nice. Russ got the hookup from a business contact. We probably could have taken 2 more couples with us if we would've known how big it was going to be. We enjoyed drinking wine, playing lots of games, walking around the lake, and eating LOTS of good food. Thanks Mark and Shelly for letting us stay at your place. We had a blast just relaxing and being around good friends!

Cousins Time

Last week Russ and I had our cousins Chad and Jennifer over for a day of fun. Russ took them to lunch at 810 Zone on the plaza. Then they came back to the house where we had many fun hours of Wii time. We ate some yummy Waldo Pizza and then went to Crown Center for some ice skating. It was so crowded! I impressed everyone with my turns and jumps. Ok, maybe not. We had a little treat at the ice cream place in Crown Center and then ended the night with popcorn and a movie. I think maybe we just ate all day long! We had a lot of fun hanging out.... till the next time!

What a Christmas!

Whoa! We finished up the last of our Christmas celebrations with my family today. Let's start at the beginning though..... I worked the night of the 23rd so when I got up the afternoon of the 24th, Russ and I exchanged our gifts to each other. Russ set up some nice plates of fruit and cheese and a couple of glasses of champagne to wash down the yummy treats. Then we went over to his parents house for a nice Christmas Eve dinner before going to hear Carolyn sing in the Stone Church service. We went back home to spend time with uncle Steve and his family. We visited till past midnight because we were having so much fun drinking egg nog and sharing stories. The next morning we exchanged more gifts Russ's favorite gift was the guitar world tour, picture included) and then went to Grandma Betty's house for lunch. Little cousin Karin was too cute! Russ and I talked her into calling her new babydoll Baby Eric just to give the real uncle Eric a hard time! We went back the the Pearson's and watched a movie before we headed home. We had another Pearson get together Saturday evening of food and games. Today we spent the day at the Passman's for another gift exchange. Probably our most memorable gift is the painting from my parents made by a dear family friend. Jeff was the candle lighter in our wedding and is very special to us. Him and his family are absolutely amazing and inspire you to the good that they have done.

Max and Lilo's Wedding

I've been behind on my blogging! A couple of weeks ago our friends and neighbors got married at the Dolphin Art Studio. Liliana's family came in from Mexico and it was great to meet them. It was a small and intimate service because their ceremony will be in CANCUN this June! We are very hopeful that we will get to attend another destination wedding again this summer. Not bad, Dominican Republic last year and Cancun this year. Liliana of course looked beautiful and their smiles spoke a million words of how happy they were. It could not have been sweeter! They are a wonderful couple. We wish them both a very happy marriage and are so glad that they have become our friends!

In Sickness and in Health

Friday morning Russ had his wisdom teeth removed. He was pretty nervous because just about every person offered up their worst wisdom tooth horror story when he told them he was having his taken out. I stayed with him up till the last minute and then out to the waiting room I went. I couldn't believe that it took less than half an hour! We took some pics to document this little journey. He was funny and out of it when I got back to the recovery area. He kept asking me to take a picture of him. He sounded a bit like when you shove marshmellows in your mouth and try to say "chubby bunny." When we got home he informed me that he was not tired but preceded to nap for about the next 3 hours. I fed him water and chicken soup with a handy syringe they had given us. He tried to drink water and take ibprofen right away from a cup without success because he couldn't feel his tongue or lower lip. All and all he has done great! (way better than I did). We actually ventured out of the house for awhile last night and got our Christmas shopping done today. The couple of people that have seen us this weekend said they can't believe how good he looks for just having this done on Friday. What a trooper!

Getting into the Spirit

Thought I would post a couple of pictures of the outside of our house and our tree. I think the picture makes are tree look "frosty." It doesn't look that way at all. Oh well! Hope all of you are enjoying your holiday season!

A Photo Shoot

This year we spent Thanksgiving with my parents and decided to take Winston and his neighbor girlfriends down to the lake for a little photo shoot. I am thinking this is probably a similar situation trying to take pictures with little kids. In my mind I thought, "Oh it would be so cute to sit them on the bench and they will wear reindeer ears." Boy was I wrong! Winston just looked frightened and the girls would hop of the bench as soon as you sat them on it. Oh well! We still got a couple of good shots and had fun doing it. Thanks Polly and Anna for playing! What dog doesn't love a good walk!?